Ka'ili's brings island flavors to the desert

8:17 PM,
Sep. 19, 2013

Ka'ili's in Santa Clara offers a variety of entrees, salads and sandwiches with flavors inspired by the Pacific Rim.

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The first thing I noticed was the exterior paint was no longer bright pink.

As I pulled up in front of Ka'ili's - located in the building that was once Grandma Tobler's Bakery in Santa Clara - the thought of a relaxing Hawaiian meal in an atmosphere that promised to be island-style serene was extremely appealing on a busy Tuesday.

As I opened the door of this historic home, the sound of ukulele music drifted toward me, as if propelled by an island breeze, and I took a seat at one of the cloth-covered tables in this cozy eatery. ...